Western Michigan University freshmen move in for Fall Welcome week

KALAMAZOO, MI – With Hello Kitty clock radio and bear Mr.
Cuddles in tow, Anteria Jefferson was eager to move in to Ackley Hall Monday
morning. The Seita Scholar from Detroit said she hopes to major in early education
and/or special education.

Jefferson was part of the first wave of freshmen, as Western
Michigan University's residence halls started filling up for a new school year Monday.

Lee Honors College freshmen, ROTC and Air Force ROTC and
Seita Scholars were among the first to move in to their new homes for the year.
The rest of the freshmen class and transfer students will arrive Tuesday.

By 10 a.m., islands of belongings covered the grass in front
of the Valley 1 dorms, as parents stood (or sat, for those who brought couches
and futons) guard, while students went to sign in for their keys.

The WMU Gold Men (and Women) were out, toting paper towels,
boxes and globes for the incoming freshmen. Bronco Buddies in bright-orange
shirts loaded laundry carts full of microwaves, Rubbermaid tubs of belongings, electric
fans and snack supplies. Student Ambassadors, in yellow shirts, carried baskets
of bottled water for the weary movers and Kleenex packs for verklempt parents. A fraternity was even handing out free Red Bull.

One of those grabbing for tissues was Sherri Andenno, whose
son, Devin, is in the Honors College and plans to be a music composition major.

"He's my last one," said Andenno, tearing up a little but
joking that her husband, Don, might end up needing the Kleenex more. Her oldest
son attended Mid-Michigan Community College and now works as a chef and her
daughter just graduated from Albion College.

Devin's roommate was supplying the mini-fridge, futon and TV,
so they didn't have to bring any of the big stuff, Andenno said. A chair, a classic
Spider-Man poster, music technology and electronics were among the items Devin
was moving in to his room Monday.

"He's our gamer," said Sherri Andenno.

Both Andennos said they were favorably impressed by the
amount of help available and how smoothly everything was going Monday morning,
despite the heat.

"They're really organized," said Don Andenno.

"I wish this could be our first experience, not our last
experience," said Sherri Andenno.

All told, some 200 WMU students volunteered to help the
freshmen class move in, according to University Relations.

"I love seeing all the students coming on to campus," said
Shelby Bishop, a junior student ambassador. "It's great to see the campus
coming back to life. I've been looking forward to this day for a while."

Some parents and students had their moving strategy down to
a science: Chuck Cox, of Byron, and his son carried a closet rod full of
daughter Courtney Cox's wardrobe between them – thus eliminating the need to
unpack hanging clothes. (This was not a technique employed by any of the rookie
movers interviewed Monday.)

For others, this week marks the first time a child has gone
away from home.

"It's definitely a surreal experience," said Cheryl Corrion,
of Oxford, whose daughter is part of the Lee Honors College.

Mikayla Corrion came with her parents to help her big sister
Allie move into the Valley dorms. The fifth-grader said she was sad her sister
was leaving home. But on the other hand, this means she gets her very own room.

Since she's shared a room with Mikayla for years, Allie
Corrion wasn't worried about adapting to life with roommates and suite-mates. "Sharing
a room shouldn't be too hard," she said, picking up another box to tote to the
second floor.

More than 3,100 students have signed up for Fall Welcome,
with the bulk of the freshman class and transfer students arriving Tuesday. It's
also welcome week for the international students, with 500 students arriving
from more than 90 countries.

The rest of this week will be devoted to unpacking and
getting to know their new home. Tuesday night is Stadium Night – a gigantic
mixer in Waldo Stadium for all the Fall Welcome students.

Other highlights
include: Buster's Midnight Stampede, a campus run taking place Wednesday
between 9 p.m. and midnight; "Risky Business," an orientation play written and
put on by students from the Sindecuse Health Center's Office of Health Promotion and Education; and the Matriculation Ceremony
Thursday at 5 p.m. in Miller Auditorium.

Buster's Buffet will be held after the ceremony, with music
from the WMU Marching Band and food from local restaurants. Friday brings
Downtown Click, an annual photo scavenger hunt for freshmen to help them get to
know Kalamazoo. There are also residence hall meetings, campus tours and Meijer
Mania. In addition, the international students will take a trip to Saugatuck
Friday, so that they get to experience Lake Michigan.

Bed, Bath and Beyond had a tent located in the Valley parking lot for last-minute dorm purchases, and WMU also had a hospitality tent set up outside Sangren Hall to answer questions for new students and their families. WMU also opened a One Stop Convenience Center in the Bernhard Center for everything from Student IDs, financial aid, career and student employment, parent and family services and the Sindecuse health center. It will be open until Sept. 6.

For all the families interviewed, this week marked a rite of passage.

"He's ready to be in college. Mom's not," said Kristin Buhl,
of Holland, ruefully. Her oldest son, Hayden, is a member of the Honors
College. "It's uncharted territory. I was in denial until two days ago."

In fact, the Buhls didn't realize Hayden was moving in
Monday morning until 10:30 on Sunday night, Kristin Buhl said. It saved her
another 24 hours of freaking out, she joked.

"I'm ready for him to succeed," said Buhl. "He's ready to be
a Bronco."

Yvonne Zipp covers higher education and public policy for MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette. Email
her at yzipp@mlive.com or
follow her on Twitter.

Correction: This article has been updated to correct the identity of the performers of the orientation play, 'Risky Business.' They are from the Sindecuse Health Center's Office of Health Promotion and Education.